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Cape Town - 2018's 36-34 win over the All Blacks in Wellington was one of South African rugby's great days.
The scenes of Pieter-Steph du Toit crying on the Westpac Stadium turf in the moments following the final whistle told their own story of how much it meant to the Boks.
That was South Africa's first win in New Zealand since 2009, and on Saturday they will return to the venue for their only clash against the All Blacks in this year's shortened Rugby Championship.
In total, the Boks have played 7 matches against the All Blacks in Wellington and lost 6 of them.
There have been some heavy losses there in that time, too.
In 2002, the Boks were smashed 41-20, though they did score two tries through Werner Greeff and Marius Joubert.
Then, in 2011, the Boks went down 40-7 with their only try coming from skipper John Smit.
Overall, South Africa have won 36 of their 98 Tests against the All Blacks for a win percentage 38.65%.
Their overall record in New Zealand is obviously less impressive.
The Boks have won just 10 of their 44 Tests against the All Blacks in New Zealand.
More stats and facts:
Team records against New Zealand:
- Most points: 36 – 15 September 2018 (the 36 points conceded by New Zealand were their most ever against any opponent on home soil)
- Most tries: 5 – 15 September 2018
- Most conversions: 4 – 15 September 2018
- Most penalty goals: 1 – On five occasions
- Most drop goals: 1 – 20 July 2002 and 13 September 2014
Individual records against New Zealand:
- Most points: 11 – H Pollard – 15 September 2018
- Most tries: 2 – AO Dyantyi – 15 September 2018
- Most conversions: 4 – H Pollard – 15 September 2018
- Most penalty goals: 1 – By five players
- Most drop goals: 1 – WW Greeff –20 July 2002 and H Pollard – 13 September 2014
Springbok records against all opponents at Westpac Stadium:
Played 10; Won 3; Lost 3; Drawn 0; Points for 190; Points against 244; Tries for 22; Tries against 27; Wins 30%
Team records:
- Most points: 49 v Fiji – 17 September 2011
- Most tries: 6 v Fiji – 17 September 2011
- Most conversions: 5 v Fiji – 17 September 2011
- Most penalty goals: 2 v Australia – 9 October 2011
- Most drop goals: 1 on three occasions
Individual records:
- Most points: 21 by M Steyn (t, 5c, 2p) v Fiji – 17 September 2011
- Most tries: 2 by AO Dyantyi v New Zealand – 15 September 2018
- Most conversions: 5 by M Steyn v Fiji – 17 September 2011
- Most penalty goals: 2 by M Steyn v Fiji – 17 September 2011 and v Australia – 9 October, 2011
- Most drop goals: 1 by each of WW Greeff v New Zealand – 20 July 2002; M Steyn v Australia – 9 October 2011 and H Pollard v New Zealand – 13 September 2014
Miscellaneous:
- The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 457. There are 168 caps in the backline with 289 caps among the forwards. On the bench there are a further 350 caps.
- The average number of caps per player in the backline are 24, the forwards 36 while the players on the bench average 44 caps. The average age of the starting fifteen is 27.
- Eben Etzebeth is the third most capped lock with 77 Test matches. Victor Matfield (127) and Bakkies Botha (85) are the most capped locks.
Milestones and records:
- Tendai Mtawarira is the second most capped Springbok in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship with 51 appearances. Bryan Habana holds the records with 53 appearances.
- Should a successful drop goal be kicked by a Springbok in this Test match, it will be the 30th drop goal against New Zealand in the history of Test match rugby between the two countries.
Match officials:
- The referee is Nic Berry of Australia and this will be his 10th Test match as a referee, but his first involving South Africa.
- The assistant referees are Angus Gardner of Australia and Shuhei Kubo of Japan, while Rowan Kitt (England) is the TMO.
